Latch



E. W. NORTH Aug. 6, 1940.

LATCH Filed April 2, 195a INVENTOR. ZLMZ ATTORNEY.

HIS

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Patent ed Aug. 6, 1940 Edwin w. Nor-mankind, m

tional Lock 00., of Delaware Appllcation April 2, ms, Serial No. 199,6179 Claims. (01. 292-123) line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the relation of thelatch to the operating handle;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 1 showing the latchmechanism in plan with the This invention relates to latch structures,and has as its principalobject the provision of an improved structure ofthis class adapted for general application to closures and particularlysuited for 5 use with utility cabinets, such as refrigerators and thelike.

More particularly stated, it is an object of the invention to provide asimple, inexpensive and highly eflicient latch structure having a latchbolt and spring means therefor arranged to exert a maximum closingeflort in conjunction with a keeper so as to hold a closure firmly-inplace, this arrangement being of particular advantage in maintainingrefrigerator doors tightly closed.

Another object is the provision of a latch including a bolt andoperating mechanism cooperable therewith to keep the bolt in normallylatched position and effective to permit automatic latching responsiveto a closing movement of the door on which the latch is mounted.

Another object is the provision of alatch bolt and cooperating mechanismtherefor of the type heretofore characterized and further provided withan easy-opening mechanism whereby relatively powerful latching mechanismmay be quickly and easily released by handle means on the door.

Viewed from another aspect, it is an object of the invention to providea latch including a pivoted bolt and a pivoted operating lever and linkmeans including a pivotal connection between the bolt and operatinglever, all arranged so that the pivotal axes of the bolt, the operatinglever and the pivotal connection, extend in par- Sii 'allelism, therebeing spring means normally urging the operating lever into a positionto dispose the axis of the pivotal connection out of alignment in aradial sense with the pivotal axes of the bolt and lever, whereby torender the pivotal connection immovable in a direction away from thebolt, there being spring means between the pivotal connection and boltnormally urging the latter into closed position and yieldable in adirection away from the bolt when the latter ment of the door.

Other objects and novel aspects of the invention reside in certaindetails of construction, form, location and operation of the partshereinafter to be described in view of the drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the novel latch structureoperatively mounted in a closure; 5 Fig. 21s a vertical section alongthe jagged strikes its keeper responsive to a closing movebolt in openposition ation; while assignor to Nalbockford, Ill., a corporationresponsive to handle operg Fig. 4 is a horizontal section similar toFigs. 1

and 3 responsive to closing For purposes of and showing the bolt inunlatched position movement of the door. illustration, the improved 10latch is described in conjunction with a refrigerator cabinet includin ga door or closure Ill (Fig.

1) movable relative to a jamb or stationary rail H in which is mounted ahook-shaped keeper l2 provided with a forw ard camedge la, a latching l6nose I4, and a rearward latching seat or recess l5. Between the door andjamb there is the usual flexible sealing gasket or strip I6.

- The latch structure itselfincludes a mounting or housing 2| (Fig. 2

) of su tantially elongated .0

and channel-shaped form with opposite side wall portions 2| and openends 22 at its longitudinal extremities,

there being a pair of divergent,

laterally extending mounting flanges 23 struck up from the housing nearits front (left-hand) open end and provided with apertures 24 throughwhich mounting screws extend into a rail 25 (Fig. 1) projecting from theinner side of the door opposite the jamb ll The mounting flanges 23 arealso provided with tapped bores 26 into which to mounting screws for aface plate 21 are threaded, the face plate providing a trim around thelatch bolt and being recessed slightly as at 28 to permit the latchingnose I of the keeper to project as close as possible (Figs. 3 and 4).

A bolt 30 (Fig. 3) housing upon pin in the opposite side walls hand)open end ofthe ing,-the bolt having 32 between which is into the path ofthe bolt 26 is pivotally mounted in the cans ll extending between 2|near the front (leftchannel-shaped mounta pair of ofiset yoke armsmounted an impact roller 33 on pin means 34 seated in opposite ends ofthe yoke arms.

Pivotally mounted end thereof opposite in the 35 preferably in the formof a U-shaped stamping mounted on pin the bight portion of oppositesidewalls 2 the mounting pin 3| also).

Link means betwee means 36 extended close to the'stamping between the lof the housing parallel to for the latch bolt (Fig. 2

n the bolt 30 and the toggle lever 35 includes a link arm 40 havingpivotal.

connection near its 0 pposite extremities with the 66 bolt and togglelever at points eccentric of their respective pivotal axes, the link arm46 being extended into a slot cut in the bolt and pivotally connected tothe bolt by pin. means 6| extending through the end of the link 46parallel with the mounting pin 3| of the bolt, so that the link arm maypivot in a plane parallelto or in the pivotal plane of the bolt. Nearthe opposite end of the link arm 46 is an axially elongated slot 42through which extends a pivot pin 43 extending parallel with the otherpivot means 3|, 36 and ll and seated at its opposite ends in theopposite arms of the U-shaped stamping or toggle le er 3'5 (see alsoFig. 2).

The intermediate pivot pin 43 connecting the link arm and toggle leverat a point eccentric of the pivotal axis 36 of said lever constitutes aform of toggle joint or abutment means, and when the toggle lever ispivoted in opposite directions, the intermediate lever pin 43 may bebrought into alignment with the pins 3| and 36.

The arrangement of the toggle lever 35 in the housing is such that thebottom wall I6 thereof constitutes a limiting means or stop againstwhich the lever 35 abuts when the same is turned in a particulardirection (for example, Fig. 1). Spring means is arranged on the pivotpin 36 with one end 46 bearing against the mounting portion I9 and theopposite end 41 bearing against the intermediate pivot pin 43 so asnormally to urge the toggle lever 35 and the link means 46 in saidparticular direction to the limit of movement against the housing bottoml9. In this latter normal position of the mechanism, the bolt 36 is inlatching position as seen in Fig. 1, and attention is called to the factthat in this position the pivotal axes constituted by'the several pinmeans 3|, 36, 4| and 43 are all out of alignment in a radial sense,theintermediate pin 43, in particular, being out of alignment with the pins3| and 36.

The matter of alignment of the pivotal axes mentioned above is ofimportance in connection V with the use of spring means cooperable withthe link means to urge the bolt into normally latching position. Thisspring means is preferably in the form of a compression coil spring 56mounted loosely on the link arm 46 and having one end bearing againstthe intermediate link pin 43 between the opposite U-shaped arms of thetoggle lever 35, with the opposite end of the spring bearing against thebolt 36.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be apparent that if an effort be applied tothe latch bolt 36 in the region of its roller 33 and acting generallylengthwise oi the link arm 46, the spring 56 will be compressed againstthe intermediate pin 43 so asv to move the bolt into unlatched position,as shown in Fig. 4. Such a movement of the bolt would be effected byengagement of the roller 33 against the cam edge |3 of the keeper whenthe door is slammed shut, and attention is called to the fact that theslotted portion 42 in the link arm permits the latter to shift towardthe right relative to the pin 43 when the spring 56 is compressed asaforesaid, pivotal movement of the toggle arm 35 being prevented becauseof the offcenter or non-aligned position of the pin 43 relative to thepivotal axis 36 of the toggle lever, the abutment of the latter leveragainst the limiting means or bottom IQ of the housing preventing anymovement of the toggle lever as a result of the compression of thespring 56.

I I bolt into firmly latched engagement with its keeper to provide adoor seal of maximum efiectlveness, and the spring 53 is thereforerelatively strong. However, the mechanical advantage provided by thearrangement shown is such that an ordinary closing movement of the doorID will be entirely adequate to compress the spring 56 until the boltroller 33 passes the nose 14 of the keeper, whereupon the bolt will bequickly and forcefully driven home, seating the roller 33 in thelatching recess l5 (Fig. 1).

The invention further contemplates an easyopening feature which requiresconsiderably less effort to move the latch bolt into unlatched positionthan would be required if it were necessary I the bolt 36 after it,thereby withdrawing the roller 33 from the seat I5.

As an additional element of the manual opening mechanism, there isprovided in the latch a main operating lever in the form of achannelshaped stamping or bracket 52 (best seen in Fig. 2), similar inshape to, but smaller in size than, the housing 26, this lever beingpivotally mounted on the pin means 3| for the bolt 36, the pin 3|extending through opposite end portions 53 of the stamping.

The opposite end portions 54 of the main lever stamping (opposite theends 53) are provided with elongated aligned slots 55 (best seen indotted lines in Fig. 3, beneath the similarly'elongated slot 42 in thelink 46), the slots 55 fitting around the extending'end portions of theintermediate pin 43 so as to have pivotal connection with thelink meansin common with the toggle lever 35.

Thus, when the main operating means 52 is pivoted in a clockwise sensefrom the position seen in Fig. 1 to that seen in Fig. 3, the link means46 serves to withdraw the bolt by effort applied to the pivotalconnection 43 of the link means with the toggle lever.

Various mechanisms may be provided for operating the main lever means52, and in the present arrangement seen particularly in Fig. 2 there isprovided an operating handle I6 having a pivotal mounting II on theoutside of the door l6 and having an eccentrically'connected operatingrod I2 extending through the door for connection at its inner end withthe main operating lever 52. This latter connection is-effected throughthe provision of a horizontally elongated slot I3 in the vertical orbottom wall of the U-shaped stamping which constitutes the mainoperating lever, and the provision of laterally projecting offsets I4 inthe nature of a T-head at the inner end of the handle operating rod I2,which projections I4 are inserted through the slot I3 and turned ninetydegrees so as to bear against the adjoining marginal portions of thestamping aroundthe opening I3. When the handle I6 is raised (clockwise,Fig. 2), the rod I2 moves outwardly (to the left) and pivots the mainoperating member or lever 52 in a clockwise direction from the positionseen in Fig. 1 into the position seen in Fig. 3. The bolt 30 will returnautomatically to normally latched position un'der urgence of the springmeans when the handle is released.

It will be apparent that as a result of the lever system set forth thatthe spring means 45 may be relatively weaker than the main spring means50, and hence operation of the bolt by the handle 10 is a relativelyeffortless task. If the handle means he released before the door isclosed, the spring means 45 will quickly restore the lever system to thecondition seen in Fig. 1 so that if the door thereafter be slammed shut,the toggle lever 35 will already be in off-center position relative tothe linkage system. so that when the roller 33 strikes the cam edge l3of the keeper, the main spring and associated mechanism will operate toseat the bolt securely. On the other hand, if the handle be maintainedin raised position while the door is closed, the spring means 45 and thelinkage mechanism will elfect pivotal movement of the bolt into latchingposition aS seen in Fig. 1, there being practically no resistance to thelatching roller portion 33 of the bolt as the same is pivoted home. Thenovel latch construction permits of the employment of tolerances andclearances providing easy action of the mechanical parts and at the sametime assuring very accurate positioning of the bolt relative to itskepeer, particularly when the bolt is turned home upon release of thehandle and toggle lever 35.

The latter statement is best demonstrated by a comparative referencebetween Figs. 3 and 1, in the order named, wherein it will be observedthat whenthe toggle lever 35 is turned back to.

- invention is subject to modification in the form,

location and operation of various elements particularly described indetail herein as a preferred form of construction, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to such detailsexcept as may be expressly provided in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a latch, a base member and a bolt pivoted thereon, a plurality ofserially connected operating levers a first one of which has oneterminus pivotally connected to said bolt eccentrical y of the pivotalaxis thereof, and a last one of which has an opposite terminus pivotallyfixed on said base member, spring means urging said series of leversinto a normal position limited by said base member and in which normalposition pivotal movement of the bolt in one direction will exert athrust on the levers of said series tending to pivot the same in thedirection of limited movement, one of the levers of said seriesconnected to the bolt being arranged to shift as well as pivot withrespect to another lever of the series, spring means arranged toresistantly communicate thrust movement of the bolt to said series whenthe series is in said normal position, and a main operating leverpivoted coaxially with said bolt and having pivoted connection with saidseries of levers at a point between the terminal extremities thereof.

2. In a latch, a pivoted bolt, a systemof op erating levers havingpivotal connection with an eccentric part of said bolt, spring meansarranged to pivot said lever system into a predetermined normal positionwherein pivotal movement of the bolt in one direction will exert athrust action on said system of levers, one of said levers beingarranged to shift radially of its pivotal connection with another leverresponsive to thrust action of the bolt as well as pivot in itsconnectionin said system, additional spring means normally resistingthrust movement of said bolt, and operating means in the form of a leverpivoted coaxially with said bolt and having pivotable connection withsaid lever system at a point therein which is offset relative to thepivotal connection thereof with the bolt.

3. In a latch, a pivoted bolt, a first operating lever pivotable aboutan axis parallel to that of the bolt, a link pivotally interconnectingthe bolt and the operating lever, spring means urging said bolt awayfrom said operating lever into latched position, said link beingarranged to shift as well as pivot relative to its connection with saidfirst operating lever upon pivotal movement of the bolt toward unlatchedposition, said bolt being pivotable into unlatched position toward saidoperating lever against the tension of said spring means, and a secondoperating lever pivotable about the same axis as the bolt and havingpivotable connection with the first operating lever along the pivotalaxis of the connection between said first operating lever and said link,together with means yieldingly urging said first and second operatinglevers into normal position to dispose said bolt in latched position.

4. In a latch, a pivoted bolt, toggle mechanism including a toggle leverpivoted for movement about an axis parallel with the pivotal axis ofsaid bolt, and link means having pivotal connection with said togglelever and said bolt eccentrically of the pivots of said lever and bolt,spring means interposed between the pivotal connections of said link andnormally urging said bolt into latching position when said toggle leveris pivoted into a normal position in a particular direction, springmeans urging said toggle member into said normal position in saidparticular direction, means limiting the movement of said toggle leverin said particular direction, and an operating member. pivotally mountedon the bolt pivot and having pivotal connection with said togglemechanism at the pivotal juncture of the link and toggle lever.

5. In a latch, a pivoted bolt, toggle mechanism operatively connectedwith said bolt and including a pair of pivotally joined toggle membersand spring means normally urging the same into a normal position, mainspring means cooperable with said toggle mechanism to yieldably holdsaid bolt in latching position when said toggle member is in said normalposition, and lever means pivoted coaxially with said bolt andpivottally connected at the pivotal juncture of said toggle members foroperation to move the toggle mechanism out of said normal position toeffect movement of said bolt into unlatched position without tensioningof said main spring means.

6. In a latch: a pivoted bolt, spring means having one end arranged tourge said bolt into latching position, toggle mechanism operativelylinked to said bolt constituting a relatively fixed abutment means forthe opposite end of said spring means when said toggle mechanism isdisposed in oiT-center condition relative to its connection with thebolt, yieldable means normally urging said toggle mechanism into saidoil-center position, and lever means coaxially mounted with said boltand having operative connection with said toggle mechanism and operableto move the latter from said off-center position to move said bolt intounlatched position independently of and without tensioning saidfirst-mentioned spring means.

"I. A latch including a bolt, a compression spring arranged with one endbearing against the bolt and an opposite end bearing against a movableabutment member, link means operatively connecting said bolt with saidabutment member, a second spring means normally urging said movableabutment member into a normal position wherein the same will not bemoved by compression of said first-mentioned spring responsive to forceapplied to said bolt and tending to urge the same into unlatchedposition against said compression spring, and lever means mountedcoaxialiy with the pivot of said bolt and connected at the juncture ofsaid link means with said abutment member for operation to withdraw saidabutment member from said normal position and move said bolt intounlatched position independently of and without tensioning saidcompression spring.

8 In a latch, a mounting, a latch bolt pivoted on said mounting, a pairof toggle members pivotally joined and means in the region or thepivotal juncture of said toggle members constituting an abutment for aspring, a first one of said toggle members being pivoted on saidmounting and the other toggle member being pivotally attached to saidbolt eccentrically of the pivotal axis of the latter, said other togglemember being shiitable radially relative to said pivotal juncture andsaid abutment means, a compression spring on said other toggle memberand interposed between saidibolt and abutment means so as tobe'compressible against the latter when the same is disposed in a normalposition by said toggle members and the bolt is pivoted toward unlatchedposimal position aforesaid, and means pivoted coaxially with the pivotof said bolt and pivotally connected to the juncture point of saidtoggle members for moving said toggle members out of said normalposition to move said bolt toward unlatched position without shiftingsaid other toggle member.

9. In a latch, a mounting, a latch bolt pivoted on said mounting, a pairof toggle members pivotally joined and means arranged in the region ofthe pivotal juncture of said toggle mem- Mars for movement therewith andconstituting-an abutment for a spring, a first one of said togglemembers being pivoted on said mounting and the other toggle member beingpivotally attached to said bolt eccentrically of the pivotal axis of thelatter, said other toggle member being shiftable radially relative tosaid pivotal juncture and said abutment means by unlatching movement ofthe bolt when said first toggle member is disposed in a certainposition, a compression spring on said other toggle member andinterposed between said'bolt and abutment means so as to be compressibleagainst the latter when the same is disposed in said certain position bysaid toggle members and the bolt is pivoted toward unlatched positionagainst said spring, a second spring means urging said toggle membersinto a normal position against stop means on said mounting with theabutment means in the certain position aforesaid, and operating meansfor said toggle members including a lever pivoted on said mountingcoaxially with said bolt and having pivotal connection with said pivotaljuncture of the toggle members, said lever being operable to move saidtoggle members out of said normal position to move the bolt intounlatched position.

EDWIN W. NORTH.

